Monday, August 6, 2012

‎It seemed like he would never get his moment. Andy Murray, world No 4, was chasing a major victory for years. He had several chances to achieve glory but he had some mighty fellows such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic in his way. On Sunday, in the grass at Wimbledon, during the London Olympics, and with the crowd again on his side, Andy Murray got the "number one", the "biggest win" of his life, as he described it. The Brit crushed Roger Federer (tired from the longest match in Olympic history from the day before) in three straight sets 6-1 6-2 6-4. He also become the first British male in 104 years to win an Olympic singles gold medal.

To complete a remarkable Olympic event, Murray played also on Sunday the mixed doubles final with partner Laura Robson against team Belarus, formed by 1-ranked tennis woman Victoria Azarenka and 1-ranked in men's doubles Max Mirnyi. Belarus got the Gold with a victory by 2-6 6-3 10-8. Vika and Max become the first tennis players ever to win a Gold Medal for Belarus, and Myrnyi, at age 35, sets the record as the oldest man to win an Olympic medal since 1988. In the mixed doubles competition, the bronze was awarded to Mike Bryan and Lisa Raymond from the USA.

Mixed doubles medalists: Great Britain, Belarus and USA

Golden Sisters!

In the women's doubles competition, the Williams sisters tasted the victory once again and become the first four-time Gold medallists in tennis history. Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka from Czech Republic won the silver medal and Russia's Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova the bronze medal.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Serena Williams is the first tennis player in history to achieve a career Golden Slam (all four majors and an Olympic Gold Medal) both in singles and doubles (Steffi Graf was the first woman to complete a career Golden Slam in Seoul 1988). At age 31, Serena needed just 62 minutes to pulverize Maria Sharapova - 6-0 6-1 - in the final of women's singles at the London Olympics on Saturday.
"I didn't expect this. I can't even... oh my gosh. I have a gold medal in singles, oh my gosh. I got the gold. I'm just so happy. I don't know what to do. I just feel good about my game. I've practiced so hard. It was time", Williams said in an interview after the game, quoted by the WTA website.

USA had more to celebrate on Saturday. Doubles champions Bryan Brothers got their first Olympic gold medal in men's doubles (they won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics) after defeating France's Michael Llodra and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4 7-6. On Facebook, Bob wrote a few hours after the match: "Wow, what can I say? To wear this gold medal around my neck is the greatest thing that has ever happened or will happen to me in my sporting lifetime. We have reached the pinnacle of our careers and there is no way we could have done it without the love and support from the people around us. This includes all of our fans and friends here on Facebook. Thanks so much for the messages! We love you!"

Men's Doubles Bronze match was a victory for France's Richard Gasquet and Julien Benneteau over Spain's David Ferrer and Feliciano Lopez.

Bryan Brothers first Gold Medal

The French: Gasquet and Benneteau with the Bronze Medal; Tsonga and Llodra won silver